Mausoleum



Sept. 9, 193i). w. s. MERsHoN MAUSOLEUM Filed June 2, 1928l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l lNvENToR W/L/l/AM S. NHSHN AT-TONEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930 WILLIAM s. MnnsHoN, F LAKEWOOD, oHIo i MAUsoLEUM Application filed .lune 2,

This invention relates to community mau-` soleums `and isparticularly concerned with al new andV improved4 form of construction which makes it commercially possible to utilize for such purpose, `materials which Vhave been prohibitively expensive heretofore. y

Attempts have been made prior to this inventiontoutilize various materials, for example, slate, sandstone", limestone and other lo suitable natural'stones 'or rocks in community mausoleums but such attempts have not been entirely successful, partly because the existing" constructions rendered it necessary to use heavy sections of such materials to obtain 15 the desired"` support, particularly for the shelves in the crypts Thisextra thickness increased the cost and practically eliminated Y such materials from use when in competition with cheaper materialsV such as reinforced concrete. Another reasonfor the previous failures was that thefcuttingand fitting costs incident to the use of such materials were very high as compared witliconcrete which could be Ypoured monolithically 4 By myfinvention Ihave made it possible to extendthe range and selection'of materials to include many materials heretofore i excludedffrom use in competitionwith thel cheaper materials heretofore used and at the same time to decrease the former cost of much of the cutting and tting heretofore performed for private mausoleums andV ree ceiving vaults. 'a

In the drawings accompanying and formf ing a part of this application; Figure` 1 isa fragmentary front elevation of a community mausoleum embodying one form of my invention; n u a Figure 2 isa horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofvFig. 1; H y

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4C and 5 are `respectively 'horizontal and vertical fragmentary sectional views showing one arrangement of mausoleum and an exterior Wall therefor; i

Figure 6 isan enlarged `fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational 1928. serial No. 282,500.

viewshowing the jmeans for preventing inward tipping of the crypt closers;f 1

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top" plan viewof one form" of cap; Figure 9 is a perspective view ofamdified cap and one form of partition saddle for use therewith`;"` f y Figure 10 shows in 4enlarged detail the Tcorrelation' of theledge shelfand sidewall as taken on line10-10 of Figure 2. Referring first to Figuresllto vinclusive, the mausoleum shown is supported 1on af suit` able foundation 1 and'iconsists of apluralit'y, of upright walls 2` and horizontal shelves `3 forming a pluralit ofcrypts 4, enolosedvon therearendand desired, on either orboth sides with an exterior Wall 5. The front of the mausoleum, shown herein, is of`c'on"ven-l tional formand consists of""suitable or pt n closers 10 for each ofthecrypts Z)Hof the mane solemn; The outer walls 2 may rest Vat their e bottom edge on the bottom row of horizontal shelves 3,.or,.ifdesired, directly on the supi porting structure "f1 after the manner shown inFigure 2 as regards the partitions `9. The rear endwall 1l of each crypt l issiinilarly on the horizontal bottom shelf 3yand has its* top surface in substantially the same' plane as the top edges of therside walls 2. On the top" of each partition a cap 12"of nearly the same Vsupportedeither on the Vsupporting base l or the rear wall 11 and has its end edge substantially flush with the outer surface of the rear wall 11, and is supported along its side edge portions by the projections of the caps beyond the partition with its edge surfaces closely adjacent to the partitions 9 on the caps 12. In the case of an outer crypt 4 the end and onesideof the shelf 3 will be sup ported as in the case of interior crypts 4 but the outer edge portion of the shelf 3 is supported on the top of the sidewall 2;' Other higher outer side walls 2 rest on the shelves 3 in vertical alignment with the next lower side wall 2, as is also the case with the next upper rear walls 11.

Several tiers of crypts may be built up in the manner just ldescri-bed for the first two horizontaltiers.

Each shelf 8 has one or more, and preferably 'at leasttwo slides disposed on the upper surface thereof substantiallyas shown to constitute a slideway for a casket which is being placed in or removed freni-a crypt and'on which the casket rests while in the crypt. The slides 13 are of sufficient thicknessfso that their upper surfaces are substantially flush with the top surface off the ledge 8 with which theycoperate and the slides 13 and shelves 3 have a combined thickness not less than the ledge so that the bottom sur-faces of the ledge 8 and shelf 3 are substantially flush with each other.

Each crypt 4 has a front closer 10 which is preferably` substantially rectangular and which rests on the shelf 8 or ledge' forming the bottom of the cryptfor which it is to serve as a closer. The size of the closer 10 is preferably slightly less than the opening formed by the top and bottom and side walls of the crypt. Suitable sealing'material is placed in the space between the side, bottomand top walls of a crypt and the closer 10. This closer may have dowel pins in its lower edgeto engage in correspondingholes 14 in the bottom shelf 3 or ledge 8 therebeneath for positioning the same against sliding movements andis prevented from tippingor tilting inward'- ly by the lateral projections of the cap which is adapted to engage the inner wall-1()aN of'thel closer' 10 at one corner of the latter as shown in Figure 7. Inasmuch as the cap 12 is of nearly the same length as the partition 9 and since it is desired that the closer 1()` should have its front surface substantially fiush with the front edge ofthe partition 9 the cap 12 is preferably cut away atits front edge or stopped short in the laterally extending portions thereof by an amount substantially equal to the. thickness of the closer 10. The rear closers '11 are supported against inward tilting by engaging with the ends of the caps which are substantially flush with the inner surfaces of theV closersll.

In Figures 9 and 10 a modified cap15 is shown in which transverse grooves 16 are cut in the bottom surface thereof to accommodate saddles 17 which rest on the top edge of the partition 9 and have laterally extending pop tions 18 substantially the width of the cap 15 and depending walls 19 having bearing engagement with opposite sides of the partition 9. These saddles 17 may be made of bronze or other suitable material'which does not corrode or deteriorate in the atmosphere of a crypt and they may be variously shaped. The main purpose of'these saddles is to engage with the side surface of the partition 9 land-thereby to prevent lateral tilting of the cap 15.

In Figures 4 and' 5 is shown a convenient means of venting the crypts. The rear end walls -11 of the crypts areprovided with-one or more, `and preferably at least two, vent openings 2O which communicate with vent passages 21 formed by the exterior wall-1 and the crypt. If desired the side and parti tion-walls 2 and9 may be projected beyond the rear surface of the rear end walls 11, as shown in these figures, the vent passages 21 being preferably disposed between each adjacent pair of such projecting walls 2 and 9 andthe rear walls 11 of the crypt. When the shelves rest on the'tops of the side and rear walls of the'crypt and the side walls V2 are extended rearwardly, as just described,ghori zontalventpassagesj22 are formed. It is to be understood that the' vertical passages 21 maybe formed onthe sides of a crypt if desired simply by extending the rear walls beyondthe side walls 2. I

4In Figure 6 the marble closer in shown proj ecting at its topinto a recess 8fL in the ledge 8jwhe-re -it is retained'byA the marble slabs 7 which have dowel pins 7a in the lower edge projecting into the ledge 8 and which at their upper edges project into recesses' 8b in ledge 8 thereabofve. A

In Figure 1() is shown' the notching of'ledge 8 to close the space between two adjacent sidewalls 2in front of the shelf 8. j The shelf is similarly notchedto receive partition 9 or if the shelf extends-past one or more partitions it need only be groovedto take each partition. The shelf 8thus cooperates with the partitions-and isengageable with the opposite sides'thereof in a manner to prevent lateral shifting of such'partitions.

It will be noted that all of the walls of the mausoleum shown herein are relatively thin as compared with certain of the marble parts, for example, they ledges 8. My invention makes it possible to utilize such thin sections while still providing sufficient supporting strength and area even where some ofthe less strong materials are used. My construction is particularly welladapted to the use of slate and in the thin sections shown which are muchthinner than the thinnest sections heretofore considered permissible withthen existing forms of supporting constructions.

` This is traceable in part to a new and improved means of supporting and strengthening the thin shelves. For example, the shelves have a bearing of considerable width all along the sides on the ,caps 12 and moreover, are not weakened by any rabbeting which has heretofore been used. The shelvesare also strengthened as to load carrying capacity by` which are filled with material which hardens and supports the partitions 9. The caps l2 are easily made and require substantially no special cutting except as is shown in Figure 8 to accommodate the front closer 10. The front closer can be cut into substantially rectangular form without notching and still be supported in upright position against inward tilting -by the cap l2. t

I have described my inventionso that those skilled in the art may be enabled to practise the same ,and what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed, it being understood that the foregoing detailed description and the forms 'of constructions shown in the drawings have been employed wholly for the purpose of disclosing my invention and not in any sense for the purpose of limiting the same tosuch details.

Claims:

l. A community mausoleum including a `plurality of crypts having upright walls, ceryond the said walls, and an exterior wall co-` operating with the said `projecting walls and forming Vtherebetween common vent passages communicating with the said vent openings of a plurality of crypts.

3. In a community mausoleum, a crypt formed of flat disconnected members having plane side and edge surfaces including an upright partition, a cap on the partition having a front projection aligned with the partition,`a shelf supported in part by the cap, and a closer supported in-an upright position by the cap on one side of said projection.

4;. In a community mausoleum, a crypt formed of flat, disconnected members having side and edge surfaces delined by planes, in-

cluding an `upright partition, a cap on and projectingvlaterally beyond the partition, a shelf supported in part by said cap, and a closer disposed on one side ofthe partition andbelow the shelf in an upright position and being prevented from tilting inwardly by engagement `with the projecting portion of the cap.

5. In a `community mausoleum, a cryptA formed of flat, disconnectedmembers having plane side and edge surfaces including an upright partition, a cap supported by and projecting laterally beyond the partition,fthe laterally projecting portion of the cap being stopped short of one end of the partition by a distance substantially equal to the thick ness of a closer, a shelf having one edge portion supported by the cap with its said edge disposed adjacent to the second partition and a closer engageable inran upright position with the stopped end, of the cap to prevent inward tipping of the closer.

6. In a community mausoleum, an upright partition, a cap supported by and projecting laterally beyond the partition, a second partition supported by the cap, a shelf having one edge portion disposed on the cap adjacent to thel second partition, andv a saddle engaging the sides ofthe first said partition and theunderside of the capfor preventing lateraltipping of the cap; j f

7. In j a community mausoleum, a crypt formed of fiat, disconnected members having side and edge surfaces `lying in planes, in`- cluding an upright partition, a cap resting on and projecting laterally beyond the par- Vtition on each side thereof, a second partition resting `on` the cap in substantially vertical alignment with the first saidpartition, and j ict shelves having their adjacent edge portions resting on the cap and disposed closelyuadjacent to opposite sidesof thesecond partition.

8. Ina community mausoleum, a crypt formed of a plurality of separate generally rectangular members having side and edge surfaces disposed 1n planes, including a floor member, upright side and end members, a

cap member on one side member, and a top supported at oneedge on the cap, the said Vmembers mutually supporting each .other by `surface to surface engagement of adjacent members.

9. In a community mausoleum, a crypt formed of flat disconnected members having side and edge surfaces lying in planes, including an upright partition, a cap resting on and projecting laterally beyond the parti-v tion on each side thereof,shelves having their adjacent edge portions resting on the cap, and a second partition supported by and in sub` stantially vertical alignment with and disposed above the first said partit-ion.

10. In a community mausoleum, a crypt formed of a pluralty of separate generally rectangular members having side vand edge icc A iria surfaces disposed in planes, including a floor member, upright side and end members, topsupporting means supported by a side member and projecting laterally beyond the side surface of the side member, and a top supported at one edge on the said means, the said members mutually supporting each other by surface to surface engagement of adjacent members.

11. In a community mausoleum, a crypt having upright side walls, a top, and a bottom, an upright closer disposed out of Contact with the side walls and resting by gravity on the bottom, and means engageable with an upper corner of the closer for preventing inward tipping of the upper portion of the closer.

12. In a mausoleum, a crypt having a closer end and upright side walls provided with continuous parallel plane side surfaces at the closer end, and also having top and bottom walls, an upright closer for the crypt disposed out of contact with the side walls and resting by gravity on the bottom wall, and means projecting into the crypt beyond the said parallel plane surfaces of the side walls and engageable with the inner surface of the closer for preventing inward tipping ofthe top of the latter.

13. In a mausoleum, a crypt having a closer end and upright side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, the said side and top;wall4 being provided with continuous parallel plane side surfaces at the closer end, an upright closer for the crypt disposed out of Contact with the said side and top walls and resting on the bottom wall by gravity, and means proj ecting into the crypt below the top wall and engageable with the inner surface of the closer for preventing inward tipping of the top of the latter.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature this 8th day of May, 1928.

WILLIAM S. MERSHON. 

